Yoga mat

ABSTRACT

Presented is a yoga exercise mat for use when performing yoga poses, or other floor exercises utilizing various disciplines. Words are presented on the mat surface which bring to the user an inspirational message, which is achieved by reading the inspirational indicia, thinking it, or just by seeing it. The mat is elliptical in shape to convey a sense of harmony, flow, and balance, and has a color which is a soothing and mood altering color.

PRIORITY/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/170,503, filed Apr. 17, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to the field of exercise mats.Particular embodiments relate to yoga mats, ti chi mats, and qi Gongmats.

BACKGROUND

There are a number of mats which are available which are utilized bypeople in doing a number of different exercises. Some of these mats canbe used with a number of exercise disciplines; one example of these ispalates which includes a number of exercises dominated by core bodyexercises. Other exercise types can be practiced on exercise mats, suchas the exercise disciplines of yoga, ti chi, qi Gong, or simplystretching and floor exercises.

There are a number of mats available for practitioners to use in thesedisciplines, with almost all of them being rectangular in shape, andbeing made of a material which provides a degree of cushioning over ahard floor.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The Western style of technology is based on the scientific method, andformulating theories and hypotheses which correlate with observed facts.Western technology such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, andmicrobiology are all examples of western sciences based on theories andhypotheses which are based on the scientific method.

Technology is not necessarily based on the scientific method. Technologyis rooted in the practice of people in performing a skill or craft, andtechniques and methods may be thus refined and perfected without atheoretical understanding of why the technology works. Steel wasoriginally made by people who knew that certain steps added to a processwould change the outcome of the product, but they had no idea thatcarbon was involved and that different percentages of carbon causedifferent characteristics in the steel.

Many practices in the Eastern style or philosophy of technology aretechnologies which are practiced with success, while being hard toexplain in a western vocabulary of science. The present invention issuch a device which is rooted in the Eastern tradition of science, inwhich methods are utilized without a complete explanation in terms ofWestern science.

Masaru Emoto is a Japanese author and philosopher known for his claimthat water droplets can be altered by human speech, thoughts or words,resulting in water crystals which may be beautiful or ugly dependingupon whether the words or thoughts were positive or negative. Emotoclaims this can be achieved through prayer, music or by attachingwritten words to a container of water. Dr. Emoto had a brilliantdiscovery of how words, especially positive words, affect watermolecules. If positive words can affect liquid in such a powerful way,what affect would they have on the human body that is made of over 70%water?

The present invention is an application of that theory, that words canhave a positive effect on water, and can have a positive effect on ahuman being made mostly of water.

Words have such tremendous power, spoken and unspoken. It has beentested and proven time and again, that when we think or speak positivelyor think negatively, that level of vibration from the words affects onesphysical and mental well being, as well as ones health and attitude.With this knowledge and truth, one has the benefit of choosing how toact, react and how to feel. So in essence, as positive words with highvibration enhance and raise the level of vibration in our human bodies,then molecular healing can take place both physically and mentally. Onesoutlook or attitude is elevated—feelings of happiness, joy, peace,relaxation, and clarity can be experienced and serotonin levels areenhanced. The same is true for negative or low vibrational words andthoughts. We become what we think.

As one claims a belief in the affirmative words, one becomes more ofthat claim. For example stating the words, “I am healthy” or “I ampeaceful” or “I am compassionate”, and then accepting them as truth,enables one to move into a more sustainable and powerful mindset.Whether this is due to Dr. Emoto's theory, through some unknown responsepathway in the human brain, due to a subconscious level nuereopathway,the inventor does not know, but we know that it works and present thistheory as to why it works.

For those in rehabilitation from a physical ailment or with terminalillness, or even drug and alcohol rehab, the selection of these positivewords has potential to provide a mechanism to increase the healing rateand physical feelings of the body, less stress, etc. This process aloneelevates ones attitude, outlook, lowers stress, and many otherattributes, and results in the natural consequence of becoming moreenlightened from within.

With positive words and thoughts in mind, the yoga mat of the inventionfurther assists one's reconnection with body and mind. The mat iselliptical in shape because the oval form is very complimentary to thehuman body. The elliptical form of the mat conveys a different messageto the user than when using a rectangular mat. The ellipse is organic innature, unlike most mats that are square edged and rectangular, withsofter edges—curved and flowing. The shape is vital to the enhancedexperience of the mat as its rounded nature keeps the positive energyflowing around the mat. This unique shape and size also allows the bodyto remain completely on the mat during all stages of activity, such asyoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or other non exercise related options such asresting, reading, or watching TV . . . no matter the activity, one stillreceives all the same benefits! In many of these disciplines, certainforms are utilized which result in part of the user's body extendingover the sides of a rectangular mat. These include the yoga poseschild's pose, side stretch in savasana, savasana, and other poses.

The colors of the mat are yet another integral element of the product.One side relates to the second chakra of “Spirituality”, with indigo orpurple as its relative color. It represents one's connection withintuition, inspiration, trust, and creativity. The other side relates tothe sixth chakra of “balancing”, with clay or orange as its relativecolor. It represents one's connection with calm, forgiveness,generosity, and gratefulness.

With the connection of all of these powerful elements working together,the product assists in achieving ultimate bliss, or at least improvedand enhanced spirituality. Each colored side compliments the positivehealing and life changing words one may be focusing their vibrationalenergy towards. The shape mimics the organic nature of the human bodyand the thickness is just enough to add comfort. The size is designedwith more attention to human scale and allowing the body to residecompletely on the mat during activities. The material is as sustainableand eco-friendly as it is non-toxic and biodegradable.

As one is using the mat, whether in yoga or other activities, the intentis to concentrate on a word that resonates within the body and then tofocus on its meaning. As one focuses, the mind is brought back into thepresent moment, and not on one's “to do” list or stress of the day, butto the positive nature of the word. Ultimately, the words can become apersonal mantra for one's practice and daily life. Saying or reading thewords “I am peaceful,” “I am grounded,” “I Am Intuitive” or “I amintuitive” thus has resulting spiritual benefits, mood improvement, andchanges which are measureable even in terms of Western technology.

The purpose of the Abstract is to enable the public, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosureof the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define theinventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by theclaims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of theinventive concept(s) in any way. Still other features and advantages ofthe presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventiveconcept(s), simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplatedby carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, theinventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obviousrespects all without departing from the inventive concept(s).Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodimentsare to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive innature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is view of a first side of a yoga mat of the invention.

FIG. 2 is view of a second side of a yoga mat of the invention

FIG. 3 is view of a first side of a yoga mat of the invention.

FIG. 4 is view of a first side of a yoga mat of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible ofvarious modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustratedembodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will bedescribed below in detail. It should be understood, however, that thereis no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific formdisclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope ofthe inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

In the following description and in the figures, like elements areidentified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc,” and“or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unlessotherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but notlimited to,” unless otherwise noted.

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept is shown in FIGS.1-4. FIG. 1 shows one side of one version of a yoga practice mat of theinvention. The yoga practice mat includes an elliptical shaped mat bodywhich is made of a cushioning material such as foam product. Thepreferred material is a thermal plastic elastomer, which is preferablebecause it is a sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic material. Othermaterials with similar properties would also be suitable for the matbody 12. The mat body is in the shape of an ellipse or oval, in a widthof 30 inches and a length of 72 inches, and a thickness of 0.25 inches.

The mat has a first side 14 and a second side 16, and a mat periphery18. The mat also has a longitudinal axis which is shown by arrow L, anda lateral axis which is shown by arrow L-1. The mat is approximatelytwice as long as it is wide, and in the version shown in the figures ismore than twice as long as it is wide.

The mat preferably has the first side 14 in a first color 24. Similarly,a second side 16 is preferably covered by a second color 26. A mat whichhas one color for both sides is also possible, but a bi-color mat asdescribed above is preferable.

The first and second color are selected to be mood altering colors.

It is known to use colors for therapy, and it is known that some colorsaffect a person's mood. This general principle has been utilized fordecades in mental institutions where the color of walls, floors andfurniture are carefully chosen to be in a mood which generally tends tosoothe patients. This concept is known as chromotherapy, and is alsoused by alternative health practitioners as a way to balance energy topositively affect body in a physical, emotional, spiritual, or mentalstate. Such practitioners may combine the therapeutic use of color withother techniques such as hydrotherapy and aromatherapy to heighten thetherapeutic effect.

The type and quantity of color has been proven to have a tremendouseffect on people's mental condition. If insufficient light of a certainwave length is not provided, many people suffer each winter from a milddepression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Because of thecomplex way in which exposure to various colors acts upon the brain andupon the autonomic nervous system, exposure to specific colors can alterphysiological measurements such as blood pressure, electrical skinresistance, and glandular functions in the body. They can also affecthow a person feels on a day-to-day basis. Careful combinations of colorin a product such as a yoga practice mat thus utilize this proventechnology to use color to enhance a person's spirit, improve theirhealth, and expand their consciousness.

Chromotherapy is using an alternative health practitioner to balanceenergy in a person's body, and to have an effect which is physical,emotional, spiritual, and mental. Some alternative health practitionersuse the concept of a person's aura as a way to deal with the use ofcolors for therapy. Such a practitioner looks for the colors of aperson's aura for the purpose of clearing and re-balancing a person'senergy field. Knowing what colors are in a person's aura allows thehealth care practitioner to understand what therapies are best for thatpatient at the time. It has been shown that different colors can affectthe pituitary gland which helps regulate hormone production. Hormonescan affect a person's mood, so it makes sense that color, through apatient's brain and through glands such as the pituitary gland andthrough the autonomic nervous system can also affect mood.

Purple is a color which is particularly relevant to alternative healthcare practitioners. Purple is the traditional symbol of royalty andwealth, and also represents wisdom and spirituality. When found innature, which is rare, it can appear exotic or artificial. It is foundthat purple is an effective mood altering color and its use for one orboth side of the yoga practice mat is desirable.

The color orange is a combination of the primary colors red and yellowand is considered an energetic color. Orange calls to mind feelings ofexcitement, enthusiasm, and warmth. It is considered a warm color likered but less warm than red. Orange expresses energy. It has luminousqualities and has been used for attention getting purposes, such ascaution signs. Orange also has an association with things in nature suchas fall leaves, pumpkins, and Halloween. It symbolizes balance, warmth,enthusiasm, vibrance, flamboyancy, and is demanding of attention. Orangehas also been found to be an effective mood altering color, and its useas a color for one or both sides of the yoga exercise mat has been foundto be effective.

Green is a color which is widely found in nature. It is considered tohave the mood altering effects of the restful, soothing, cheerful, andhealth giving. Green is a color that is commonly associated withhealing, as is yellow. Yellow can give a sun ray of hope or offeroptimism. Brown is also effective at calming and helps to create aconnection to earth energies. Green is a cool color (as opposed to a hotcolor) that symbolizes nature and the natural world. It also representstranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy. It has been found thatgreen can improve reading ability and some students place a transparentsheet of green paper over their reading material to increase readingspeed and comprehension. Green has long been a symbol of fertility, andwas once the preferred color of choice for wedding gowns in thefifteenth century. Green is often used in decorating for its calmingeffect and was one of the early mood altering colors that was utilizedin mental institutions as green colored walls. Green is thought torelieve stress and help heal. Those who work in a green environmentexperience fewer stomach aches.

The mat includes a first line of indicia, with the first line containingwords or symbols of an inspirational nature. These inspirational indiciaare selected from a set of inspirational indicia. They are positioned inan elliptical path, complimentary to the elliptical shape of the matperiphery. The first side of the mat has a first line of inspirationalindicia 28 and the second side 16 of the mat has a second line 30 ofinspirational indicia. As noted in the summary, these words are selectedfor the positive effect they have on people. Merely by being read,visualized, contemplated, or spoken.

The inspirational indicia are preferably selected from the group ofwords which have been found to have a positive effect on a patient. Thisgroup of words: serenity, joy, courage, generosity, unconditional love,reflection, passion, harmony, peace, calmness, grace, happiness, nature,selflessness, respect, connection, consciousness, faith, focus,kindness, freedom, clarity, release, flow, gratitude, balance,confidence, strength, simplicity, wisdom, desire, tranquility, purpose,intention, kindness, inspiration, bliss, serenity, trust, intuition,liberty, abundance, prosperity, enlightenment, solitude, stillness,clarity, receive, healing, creativity, spirituality, compassion,freedom, solitude, generous, loving, passionage, forgiving, peaceful,graceful, balanced, happy, serene, joyful, courageous, grateful, calm,confident, strong, inspired, blissful, serene, trusting, faithful, open,healed, creative, harmonious, intuitive, purposeful, passionate,spiritual, compassionate, free, liberated, abundant, still, prosperous,enlightened, silent, calm, wise, tranquil, kind, inspired, blissful,serene, trusting, faithful, open, healed, creative, harmonious,intuitive, purposeful, confident, simplistic, respectful, connected,conscious, balanced.

Another version of the yoga mat of the invention includes a third line32 of inspirational indicia which is positioned adjacent to the firstline 28, and formed in an ellipse which is consistent with the ellipseof the mat periphery 18. The third line of inspirational indicia 32 ispositioned further from the mat periphery 18 than the first line of theinspirational indicia. Similarly, a second side 16 may have a fourthline of inspirational indicia 34, similarly formed in an ellipse andconsistent with the mat periphery 18 and further from the mat periphery18 than the second line 30 of inspirational indicia.

There are a number of ways in which the inspirational indicia may beplaced on the mat body 12. This includes a process called debossing, andany suitable printing type process would also work. This could includesilk screening, or other conventional printing technologies.

FIG. 1 shows the first side 14 of one version of the yoga mat of theinvention. FIG. 2 shows the second side 16 of that same version, eachwith two lines of inspirational indicia.

Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a second preferred embodiment of theinvention, with similar inspirational indicia with a similar placementbut with a different use of words. Shown in all four figures is acentrally located indicia 36. This centrally located indicia 36 may beanother inspirational indicia and, given its central position, may bethe most powerful and important of any of the inspirational indicias.FIGS. 3 and 4 also show a centerline indicia 38 which may provide acentering function to the user. Obviously, being exactly centered on themat is not critical, and obviously a user can easily find theapproximate center of the mat. Having a centerline indicia may still beof some value to users of the mat to help them visualize thelongitudinal axis 20 of the mat, and to assist them to properly alignand position themselves for certain yoga poses.

While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in Figures and in thisdisclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presentlydisclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may bevariously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changesmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as defined by the following claims.

1. A mat for yoga practice, comprising: an elliptical shaped mat bodymade of a cushioning material, with a first side and a second side whichare joined at a mat periphery, and with a longitudinal axis and alateral axis; a first line of indicia containing inspirational indiciaon said first side, with said indicia selected from a set ofinspirational indicia, with said indicia positioned in an ellipticalpath complimentary to the elliptical shape of said mat periphery; and asecond line of indicia located on said second side of said mat, withsaid indicia selected from a set of inspirational indicia, positioned inan oval path complimentary with the elliptical shape of said matperiphery
 2. The yoga mat of claim 1 which further comprises a thirdline of indicia located on said first side, comprised of inspirationalindicia, with said third line of indicia positioned in an oval pathcomplimentary with the oval of said mat periphery; and further from saidperiphery of said mat than said first line of indicia; and a fourth lineof indicia located on said second side, comprised of inspirationalindicia, with said fourth line of indicia positioned in an oval pathcomplimentary with the oval of said mat periphery; and further from saidperiphery of said mat than said second line of indicia.
 3. The mat foryoga practice of claim 1 in which said set of inspirational indiciacomprises words selected from the group consisting of serenity, joy,courage, generosity, unconditional love, reflection, passion, harmony,peace, calmness, grace, happiness, nature, selflessness, respect,connection, consciousness, faith, focus, kindness, freedom, clarity,release, flow, gratitude, balance, confidence, strength, simplicity,wisdom, desire, tranquility, purpose, intention, kindness, inspiration,bliss, serenity, trust, intuition, liberty, abundance, prosperity,enlightenment, solitude, stillness, clarity, receive, healing,creativity, spirituality, compassion, freedom, solitude, generous,loving, passionage, forgiving, peaceful, graceful, balanced, happy,serene, joyful, courageous, grateful, calm, confident, strong, inspired,blissful, serene, trusting, faithful, open, healed, creative,harmonious, intuitive, purposeful, passionate, spiritual, compassionate,free, liberated, abundant, still, prosperous, enlightened, silent, calm,wise, tranquil, kind, inspired, blissful, serene, trusting, faithful,open, healed, creative, harmonious, intuitive, purposeful, confident,simplistic, respectful, connected, conscious, balanced.
 4. The mat foryoga practice of claim 1 which further comprises said mat body to becolored a mood enhancing color.
 5. The mat for yoga practice of claim 4,which further comprises a different mood enhancing color for said firstside and said second side.
 6. The mat for yoga practice of claim 1 whichfurther comprises a first centrally located indicia on said mat firstside, and a second centrally located indicia on said mat second side. 7.A mat for yoga practice, comprising: an elliptical shaped mat body madeof a cushioning material, with a first side and a second side which arejoined at a mat periphery, and with a longitudinal axis and a lateralaxis; a first line of indicia containing inspirational indicia on saidfirst side, with said indicia selected from a set of inspirationalindicia, with said indicia positioned in an elliptical pathcomplimentary to the elliptical shape of said mat periphery; a secondline of indicia located on said second side of said mat, with saidindicia selected from a set of inspirational indicia, positioned in anoval path complimentary with the elliptical shape of said mat periphery;a third line of indicia located on said first side, comprised ofinspirational indicia, with said third line of indicia positioned in anoval path complimentary with the oval of said mat periphery; and furtherfrom said periphery of said mat than said first line of indicia; and afourth line of indicia located on said second side, comprised ofinspirational indicia, with said fourth line of indicia positioned in anoval path complimentary with the oval of said mat periphery; and furtherfrom said periphery of said mat than said second line of indicia.
 8. Themat for yoga practice of claim 7 in which said set of inspirationalindicia comprises words selected from the group consisting of serenity,joy, courage, generosity, uncondition, love, reflection, passion,harmony, peace, calmness, grace, happiness, nature, selflessness,respect, connection, consciousness, faith, focus, kindness, freedom,clarity, release, flow, gratitude, balance, confidence, strength,simplicity, wisdom, desire, tranquility, purpose, intention, kindness,inspiration, bliss, serenity, trust, intuition, liberty, abundance,prosperity, enlightenment, solitude, stillness, clarity, receive,healing, creativity, spirituality, compassion, freedom, solitude,generous, loving, passionage, forgiving, peaceful, graceful, balanced,happy, serene, joyful, courageous, grateful, calm, confident, strong,inspired, blissful, serene, trusting, faithful, open, healed, creative,harmonious, intuitive, purposeful, passionate, spiritual, compassionate,free, liberated, abundant, still, prosperous, enlightened, silent, calm,wise, tranquil, kind, inspired, blissful, serene, trusting, faithful,open, healed, creative, harmonious, intuitive, purposeful. confident,simplistic, respectful, connected, conscious, balanced, and content. 9.The mat for yoga practice of claim 7 which further comprises said matbody to be colored a mood enhancing color.
 10. The mat for yoga practiceof claim 9, which further comprises a different mood enhancing color forsaid first side and said second side.
 11. The mat for yoga practice ofclaim 7 which further comprises a first centrally located indicia onsaid mat first side, and a second centrally located indicia on said matsecond side.
 12. The mat for yoga practice of claim 7 which furthercomprises a center line indicia, on at least one side of the mat body,along the longitudinal axis of the mat.